2018 Call for Proposals - Higher Education Authority

2018 Call for Proposals

The purpose of this presentation is to summarise some of the
information in the 2018 Call Document.

It is critical that all people involved in developing submissions
for Springboard+ 2018 read the Call Document in full as a
significant number of changes have been made that are
dispersed throughout the document.

HEA will accept no responsibility for submissions not being
approved on the basis that they do not meet the criteria as set
out in the Call Document.

Overview of Changes to Springboard+ 2018

• All sectors of the economy with a demonstrated skills shortage are
  included

• All courses are open to people irrespective of their employment status

• In courses (except ICT conversion courses) where eligible applicants
  are a mix of all applicant categories, as outlined on the next Slide,
  applicant categories 1 and 2 should form a minimum of 30% of the
  student cohort.

• For employed participants on courses NFQ L7-9, HEA will fund 90%
  of the course fee with Providers collecting the remaining 10% from
  participants.

• Level 6 courses are free to all eligible participants

Springboard+ Target Cohorts 2018

1.     Those in receipt of an eligible payment from the Department of
Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the formerly self-
employed.

2.       People not in receipt of a payment from the Department of
Employment Affairs and Social Protection that have been out of the
work environment for a number of years due to childcare or other caring
obligations and have a previous history of employment but may require
upskilling or reskilling to transition back to the workforce (“Returners”).

3.       People in employment who wish to upskill or reskill to meet a
specific emerging skills gap.

Returners and employed participants will be required to meet the residency requirements for Springboard+;
that they must have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss state for at least three of the five years
preceding their entry to their course.

Restrictions regarding previous participants
1. Those who have completed a Springboard+ course within the past
two years (i.e. graduated from a 2016 or 2017 Springboard+ call course)
are not eligible to apply in 2018 (unless the participant is seeking to
progress their qualification level in the same discipline, e.g. level 7 to
level 8).

2. Participants who enrolled in more than one Springboard+ course
since the inception of Springboard in 2011, and did not complete any
course, are not eligible to apply in 2018.

3. Participants who enrolled in just one course, since the inception of
Springboard+ in 2011, but did not complete, are eligible to apply in
2018, but will be required to meet all eligibility criteria.
HEA are exploring the possibility of including a pre screening tool on the
Springboard+ website for potential applicants

Decisions on the awarding of places

HEA will expect that when providers are making decisions on the
awarding of places to eligible applicants, in instances where two
candidates meet the course academic admissions criteria,
priority must be afforded to the unemployed / Returner applicant
over those who are already in employment, in every instance.

Types of courses to be funded

1. Part-time higher education courses up to a maximum of 12 months in
duration

2. One year full-time and two year part-time ICT Skills Conversion
courses (NFQ Level 8)

As per 2017, two year conversion courses will not be open to those on
job-seeker related payments

Where relevant, proposed Springboard+ programmes must be
submitted to QQI for validation in advance of submissions to
Springboard+ for funding.

Skills areas for 2018:

All sectors of the economy with a demonstrated skills
shortage are included

However, to be considered eligible for approval, Springboard+
courses must seek to address an identified current or future skills
need and include a precise labour market rationale, which is
demonstrated by clear evidence and supported by industry
representatives

Please note the following: (1)
HEA is, in particular, seeking courses that represent flexible provision,
having regard to the upskilling needs of participants already in
employment (evening, weekends, online etc). This will be factored into
the assessment process.

Given the decreased level of unemployment, it is anticipated that in
2018/19 academic year demand will be greater for two-year part time
ICT Conversion courses. This will be factored into the assessment
process.

Courses being submitted for 2018 should be stand-alone programmes
that upskill participants for the labour market upon completion (for
example, not year 1 of a programme that takes two years, with the
exception of ICT conversion)

Please note the following: (2)

Regard will be had to academic and employment outcomes of
courses that ran in previous years. For a previously funded course to
be re-approved it is essential the most recent academic and
employment outcomes are updated on the AMS

HEA is seeking a mix of courses at different NFQ levels (6-9)

Final decisions will take into account the overall mix of courses by
level, type and duration, as well as geographical spread and mode of
delivery

Please note the following: (3)
All courses should
• Be flexible and innovative in the provision proposed to ensure the best
   possible opportunity for potential applicants to participate in Springboard+,
   particularly in the context of upskilling for those in employment,

• Be nationally or regionally focussed,

• Demonstrate clear evidence of engagement with enterprise/industry
  partners and Regional Skills Fora Managers in the development of the
  programme. For example, evidence of co-operation with industry on course
  design, guest lectures from industry, work placements etc. Note that
  generic/pro forma letters of support from industry are not deemed sufficient

• Include plans for work placements or credit-bearing projects as appropriate
  to the participant

• Demonstrate that there is an available supply of applicants,

• Include career guidance as part of the course delivery.

Evaluation Process

As per previous years, decisions on approval will be made by a panel of experts
with industry and educational experience, supported by the HEA.

A process auditor will oversee the assessment process

Proposals will be made via Skills Direct (on line application system). HEA will notify
all Providers when this system is live for 2018.

Skills Direct (online application system)

Section 1: General information (not scored)

Section 2: Course specifics (25 marks)
         - course description & modules
         - mode of delivery – emphasis on flexible provision
         - target enrolment
         - demonstrating a demand for the programme
         - contact hours and what time classes will take place

Section 3: Links with Labour Market (40 marks)
         - nature of industry collaboration (e.g. input to course, guest lecturing)
         - engagement with local/regional employers and the regional skills fora
         - addressing a current/future skills need
         - work placement and companies committed to placements
         - references/endorsements from industry representatives – generic letters
         not considered sufficient

Section 4: Supports for participants (15 marks)
         - job readiness components (e.g. CV and interview prep)
         - number of credits for job readiness
         - student supports (e.g. induction, academic support)

Section 5: Costs and value for money (20 marks)
         - cost per student per 10 ECTS credits
         - regard will be had to programme costs previously approved and sectoral
           averages

The Skills Direct system is being finalised and the system will be operational soon.
HEA will notify all Providers when it is available.

Springboard+ is co-funded under the European Social Fund Programme for
Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.

This necessitates compliance with ESF financial and reporting requirements, as well
as communication and publicity requirements. Any material publicising (including
posters and signage) or promoting Springboard+ funded courses must explicitly
acknowledge ESF co-funding and ESF logos must be incorporated into all
Springboard publicity material

see www.esf.ie for details.

Indicative Timeline for 2018

- Application deadline, 13.00pm 6th March 2018

- Providers notified of outcome, April

- Upload of course information to
www.springboardcourses.ie, May

- Launch of new courses, May